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The Ensemble Cast at Shenanigans Comedy Theatre is a dynamic group of improv comedy performers, ranging from seasoned veterans boasting over a decade of experience to recent graduates of our Level 1-3 improv classes. This talented cast brings energy and humor to our rotating improv shows. Beyond the stage, you may see them lending a hand at the ticket booth, sound booth, concessions, and more!
Shenanigans Cast
Braxton Barley
Braxton Barley took his first improv class in 2023 with the goal of building confidence at work. Since then, he’s taken more classes and workshops, falling in love with the artform, making cherished friends, and enjoying the ability to give back to Shenanigans. Braxton is also a talented photographer, plays Dungeons & Dragons with his best buds, and likes to enjoy a nice beer! He dislikes baloney (the food, the figurative kind, and the correct spelling: bologna) and Michael Bay’s Transformer series.
Ben Bowden
Ben fell in love with improv comedy here at Shenanigans by taking classes and watching Rocket City Improv perform. He continued his training at The Annoyance Theatre in Chicago, bringing those refined skills back to Huntsville as a founding member of the Fantastic Invaders troupe. At Shenanigans, Ben regularly performs and produces in a variety of shows, writes and performs sketch comedy, teaches improv classes, and serves on the Board of Directors. Two truths and a lie about Ben include: he was a two-time state champ as the coxswain for his crew team, he was a Papa John’s pizza model for a day, he cries when Professor Snape dies…every time.
Taylor Bush
Taylor was introduced to improv as a Mississippi State student when he joined Lab Rats Comedy in 2015. This was the start of his darkness. Taylor took a break from being publicly funny after graduating but came back post-pandemic to play at Shenanigans, performing with Rocket City Improv and the Fantastic Invaders. In his free time, Taylor writes adventures for tabletop RPGs and spends long hours thinking about wizards.
Justin "JD" Butler
Justin (also known as JD because there are just too many Justins at Shenanigans) started doing improv in the nerdiest way possible - playing Dungeons and Dragons at age 15. What had been only a skill used around the game table is now seeing advanced growth thanks to the Shenanigans improv classes. This continued foray into performance has brought Justin closer to the inclusive spaces they love and they continue to volunteer regularly at Shenanigans. Outside of performing, Justin also enjoys gardening, letter writing, and playing piano.
Matt Carter
Matt Carter has been making things up for well over 20 years, but things got serious in 2002 when he became a founding member of Face2Face Improv under Eugene Banks and improv turned from a hobby into a passion. Matt later honed his skills in Chicago at the iO Training Center and Annoyance Theatre, performing with iO house teams The Softest and The Darned. After a hiatus, he returned to Huntsville and launched Rocket City Improv in 2018, a group which introduced long-form improv to Shenanigans Comedy Theatre. These days, Matt juggles home life while leading Huntsville’s only long-form-focused improv show, Sidechat, teaching classes at Shenanigans, and jumping into as many shows as he can.
Kevin DeGraad
Originally from the great state of Oklahoma, Kevin began his improv journey as an audience member/improv spouse, watching his wife do improv and eventually got to thinking, "Hey, I should try that!" So, in 2025 he completed all 3 levels of improv classes, right here at Shenanigans. This initially was just to make fun friends, but improv has fully burgeoned into a hobby and outlet for him. In his free time, Kevin plays guitar, grills a mean steak, loves to travel, and is a big metalhead!
Trevor Denton
Trevor’s first foray into comedy happened in kindergarten, when he successfully landed his first joke on the first day of school. Thrilled by the experience, Trevor went on to perform improv and standup at the University of Southern California. After moving to Huntsville in 2024, he started attending classes at Shenanigans and joined the troupe, “The Little Guys,” with several other cast members. When not performing comedy, Trevor loves watching sports and losing a lot in EA Sports College Football 25.
Amanda Dodge
Amanda Dodge started her improv journey in January 2025. She has admired skilled improvisers for years, but it took her a decade to step out of the audience and onto the stage. She is thrilled to be performing with the Shenanigans ensemble cast and appreciates the welcoming community the theatre provides. When she's not honing her improv skills, Amanda enjoys exploring other creative hobbies and art forms. Don't tempt her with a crafting activity or dance lesson. She just might show up to try it!
Caroline Scott
Hailing from Birmingham, Alabama, Caroline Scott is tickled pink to twirl her way onto the improv stage! With her chocolate brown eyes and award-winning smile, Caroline loves character work, singing, and listening intently. She began improv classes in 2024 and instantly found a passion for performing and making people giggle. Her favorite part of improv is the friends she's made along the way. She is so proud to be here and hopes to win your hearts - one quick decision at a time!
Natura Sant Foster
Natura represents the culmination of centuries of human discovery and innovation. Copernicus and Galileo agree her character work is, quite simply, stellar. Aristotle once observed, “Her mimesis is not mimicry, but the faithful rendering of human striving.” Leonardo da Vinci asked her to model for his renowned Vitruvian Man, but she was out getting a juice and couldn’t make it. You can witness Natura in all her glory on the Shenanigans stage as an ensemble cast member and proud founding member of The Little Guys, to whom Isaac Newton, along with the apple, credits his discovery of gravity. For inquiries, simply conjure her image in your mind’s eye and state your heartfelt request. Expect a reply in 12 to 42 business days.
Jessica Gardner
Jessica started improv classes at Shenanigans in August 2024 as a way to build confidence and express herself creatively. This was a great way to add some “razzle dazzle” to her life after surviving puberty, a stint as a Corrections Office at an all-male prison, and serving as a Combat Veteran. If it’s not clear, Jessica can handle just about anything, so she’s ready to lace up her Chuck Taylors and make the Shenanigans’ audience laugh!
Andrea Hirschbuehler
Andrea was born on a frigid Friday night in St. Louis, MO. Then she took all three levels of improv classes at Shenanigans, loved every second of it, and formed an improv group with her new friends -The Overthinkers. Before that, she took a class at Second City, loved all things comedy, and spent a few decades wishing she was Tina Fey. In her spare time, she knits, feels like she should read more, but then hangs out with her wife and dogs watching Schitt's Creek again.
Anders Horrocks
Anders first learned and performed improv in Houston, TX with Comedy Sportz. Her initial goal was to improve her public speaking and quick thinking skills, but Anders fell in love with the art form. She expanded her craft with long-form improv at Station Theater, deepening her passion for the stage. Upon relocating to Huntsville, Anders found her new improv home at Shenanigans, refreshing her skills through their classes. Outside of improv, Anders enjoys quilting and crafting, being outdoors or at the gym, and traveling including checking out other comedy theaters, and seeking out experiences to inspire her creativity!
Cannon Hyche
Cannon Hyche is an improv comedian and songwriter known for turning ordinary moments into hilariously absurd adventures. He got his start in high school improv/theatre and later joined the “Tongue and Chief Players,” of Steamboat Springs CO, where he wowed audiences and occasionally baffled them at festivals and local shows. Cannon has also released music under both his own name and the alias "Cannonball Z." When he’s not onstage, Cannon builds LEGO masterpieces and perfects his disturbingly convincing monkey impression.
Paul Jackson
Paul started his improv journey in 2011 while attending Georgia Tech, as a part of the student improv troupe, Let's Try This! (LTT!). He grew tremendously as a person and comedian during his time with these amazing people, many of whom remain lifelong friends. Upon graduating in 2016, a job opportunity brought Paul and his wife, Jenna, to Huntsville. Shenanigans is now an essential part of their life. Doing improv has brought Paul more joy than he could fathom, and he hopes you find joy in watching! Paul performs with Fantastic Invaders, and loves to travel and play TTRPGs.
Megs Kenny
Megs got her start improvising with Face2Face improv as a high schooler in Huntsville. After leading her college short-form improv group, K.A.R.L. Improv, she trained with The Improv Shop in St Louis and fell in love with long-form through the Harold. After returning to her hometown, she started classes at Shenanigans and the rest is her-story. She wishes to thank her dog Ganondorf for inspiring everything she does. In her free time, she leads hikes for the Land Trust and bakes lasagnas for Lasagna Love.
Justin Kizer
Justin Kizer likes to make stuff up, sometimes on stage, and sometimes it makes people laugh! Justin got bit by the improv bug in 2017 when he took a corporate workshop offered by a member of the Groundlings at his engineering job in LA. He then took some classes in Austin, continued to think he was funny, and started performing in Huntsville in 2019. When not improvising, you can find Justin playing boardgames, pickleball, or with his wife, Heidi. Justin encourages everyone to get improv in their lives and still swears to this day it's not a cult.
Ashlynn Lutz
Ashlynn was first introduced to improv in 2017 as a Mississippi state Lab Rats Comedy member. Ashlynn transitioned to performing standup comedy in the surrounding area post-college but has suffered a serious improv relapse and can now be found performing at Shenanigans (obviously), and with the Open to Suggestions and the Fantastic Invaders troupes. Off stage, Ashlynn enjoys tending to her garden, dancing, and a well-made cocktail.
Trip Richert
In the spring of 2024, Trip entered Shenanigans for the first time to see a live comedy sketch show. The show was so fun that he immediately signed up for an improv comedy class, and the fun never stopped! When he’s not on stage or in the crowd at Shenanigans, Trip can be found swing dancing with friends around town and unsuccessfully trying to avoid being confused with his identical twin brother, Lee.
Beth Ridgeway
Beth Ridgeway has been performing on stage for more than 20 years. After watching an improv show in NYC one summer, she returned to Huntsville looking to perform comedy. Beth has enjoyed being an improviser since 2013. When she is not on stage, you can find her at home with her daughter and husband playing board games or watching Disney movies.
Jeremy Satcher
Jeremy Satcher started his comedy experience performing stand-up, later taking an improv class at Shenanigans with the goal to loosen up a bit on stage. He liked improv so much, Jeremy left stand-up behind and has been performing improv at Shenanigans since 2021. When not goofing around on stage or working, Jeremy can be found crafting incredibly long comic books, playing pinball, or watching movies bad enough they could get the actors and the director sentenced to The Hague.
Jacob Scott
Jacob, who was raised in Memphis, took up improv classes at Shenanigans in the summer of 2024 after being amazed by a Comedy Reflux show. He very quickly began to cherish the community it brought together and also realized that it scratched a part of his brain which longed for spontaneous buffoonery. Outside of improv, you may run into him and his wife at a music event around town or sitting outside of a sandwich shop staring off into space.
Adam Stranahan
Adam Stranahan got his first taste of improv going to shows at Shenanigans in 2025. The third show he attended Player YOU! had him as a member of the audience get on stage for a scene. After this he was inspired to actually do improv taking all 3 levels of Improv classes at Shenanigans and getting experience performing in "The All Call Improv Ball!" shows at Shenanigans. Adam branched out from improv acting in a sketch show that ultimately led to a relationship with Emma, so to make a long story short, improv has been great for Adam!
Aaron Story
Aaron is a Huntsville native with a lifelong passion for the stage. Aaron wrote and performed in high school productions, learned all about setting up a stage in college, and later gained professional experience in the production of live events. They completed all 3 levels of improv classes at Shenanigans in 2024 and now they are thrilled to continue this journey as part of the ensemble cast!
Michael Sullivan
Michael's improv journey began about 2 years ago when he did his first run-through of classes Level 1 through 3. He started doing improv to face his fears. "I have a history of anxiety, especially social anxiety, so improv sounded like a great way to challenge myself and expand my comfort zone," he said. "It has certainly helped with this and has turned into so much more for me. Not only do I feel more confident, but I've learned to let go more and embrace my inner child, which feels like great therapy. I've grown my ability to listen and be present, which is a beautiful skill that translates to everyday life. I've also met some amazing people and made invaluable friends along the way. I love how improv encourages self-expression and I have been enjoying sharing that with others." He is looking forward to continuing to expand his comfort zone and confidence and learning more about what it means to truly live in the moment.